Performance Drone Works (PDW), a fast-rising force in next-generation unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), officially opened Drone Factory 01 on Wednesday — a 90,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Huntsville that vastly expands the company’s production capacity and positions it to meet growing demand from U.S. and allied defense forces.
With the new facility, PDW said it is introducing more than 500 new jobs to the greater Huntsville area, supporting an annual economic impact of over $81 million.
The company’s new, state-of-the-art factory is located near Redstone Arsenal and will house the entire lifecycle of PDW’s drone development, from design and manufacturing to testing and final delivery.
PDW says the operation will support monthly production rates of more than 350 C100 multi-mission UAS units and 5,000 AM-FPV attritable munitions, both of which are engineered and manufactured in the U.S.
“PDW’s new drone factory is a powerful example of Alabama’s ability to support cutting-edge manufacturing at the highest level,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “This facility in Huntsville will not only deliver critical technology to our nation’s warfighters and first responders, but it will also bring over 500 high-quality jobs and millions in economic impact to the community.
“Alabama is proud to stand alongside PDW as they advance innovation, strengthen our national defense and create opportunity for our people,” she added.
PDW’s technology is already trusted by the U.S. Army through programs like the Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) initiative and the Transformation in Contact effort. Its C100 UAS, known for its modular payload architecture, is also increasingly deployed in public safety operations across the country.
“This facility gives us the scale, speed, and control needed to deliver mission-critical systems ahead of the threat,” PDW CEO and co-founder Ryan Gury said. “The ever-evolving battlefield and global threat landscape demand reliable multi mission unmanned systems capable of rapid production at scale.
“Drone Factory 01 will allow us to produce these systems, deliver to operators in the field, and iterate as needed faster than ever before,” he added.
The Huntsville facility integrates advanced production systems, quality engineering and pathogen-reduction technology, making it one of the cleanest engineering facilities in the world.
“Drone Factory 01 showcases the remarkable capabilities that emerge when world-class technology meets Alabama’s unmatched manufacturing and engineering talent,” said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “PDW’s decision to grow in Huntsville underscores our state’s role as a trusted partner to the defense industry.
“With this facility, PDW is setting a new standard for speed, scale and precision in unmanned systems production — and Alabama is proud to help make an American-made drone possible, especially since many of these systems are foreign made,” she added.
Reshaping defense
Huntsville’s rich history in missile production and rocketry provides a strong foundation for PDW to build the future of unmanned technology.
Preston Taylor, PDW’s Senior Director of Business Operations, emphasized the strategic importance of staying rooted in Alabama:
“Huntsville is more than our headquarters. It’s our edge. The innovation coming out of this city is reshaping the pace of defense manufacturing. We’re not reacting to demand; we’re setting the pace.”
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle welcomed the expansion as a major milestone for the region’s defense economy.
“PDW is an innovation engine for national defense and an economic catalyst for Huntsville,” he said. “This expansion brings high-quality jobs, strengthens our advanced manufacturing sector, and reinforces Huntsville’s position as a strategic hub for defense and aerospace.”
